Chandigarh, Sep 7 (PTI) The appointment of Sachin Pilot as general secretary in-charge of Punjab ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls is expected to galvanise and energise the party cadre and help unite the “faction-ridden” state unit, say party workers and leaders on Monday.
With Pilot considered close to party leader Rahul Gandhi, his appointment will also provide fresh momentum to the Congress’ poll campaign as it eyes victory in the Assembly elections due early next year, the leaders opined.
The Congress on Saturday carried out a major organisational reshuffle, appointing Pilot as general secretary in-charge of poll-bound Punjab and replacing Bhupesh Baghel.
Pilot was till now in-charge of Chhattisgarh, where Baghel is a key leader and former chief minister. Baghel will now look after Assam, replacing Jitendra Singh.
An immediate challenge for Pilot will be to put the house in order in the Punjab Congress, which has been grappling with sustained factionalism and internal bickering for the past many weeks.
The infighting was triggered after the Congress leadership on July 1 announced its decision to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the state unit chief and appoint former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the chairperson of its campaign committee.
A section of leaders led by Channi opposed the move to retain Warring as the Punjab Congress president and sought his removal from the post.
Channi’s supporters openly demanded the removal of Warring from the Punjab Congress chief post and that the Jalandhar MP be declared the chief ministerial face of the party for the 2027 assembly polls.
Baghel’s recent visits to Punjab failed to end factionalism, while Channi’s supporters had even accused him of “favouring” Warring.
Punjab Congress Working President Raj Kumar Verka, while hailing the party high command’s decision to entrust Pilot with the responsibility of general secretary in-charge of the state, expressed hope that all leaders would now come together.
“Pilot knows all leaders of Punjab, and they also have confidence in him,” said Verka.
With Pilot’s appointment, the party state unit will be on one platform, he further said. “All (leaders) will unite,” he further said.
Another party leader, while commenting on the appointment of Pilot, said it appears to be the party high command’s step towards addressing issues related to the state leadership.
He said it would also energise the party cadre ahead of the state assembly polls.
Several state party leaders hailed Pilot’s appointment.
Warring said Pilot’s energy and dynamism would “for sure” add to the vigour of the party ahead of the crucial polls, while Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said Pilot’s experience, leadership and connect with the people would give new strength and momentum to the Congress in Punjab.
The internal rift within the Punjab Congress had added to the perception that the party has been unable to put its house in order ahead of the Assembly polls.
This is not the first time that the Punjab Congress has grappled with factionalism. In 2021, just a few months before the assembly polls, the Congress had unceremoniously removed Amarinder Singh from the post of chief minister amid a prolonged tussle with party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Later, Channi was picked for the post. Channi lost from both Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur Assembly constituencies in the 2022 polls. The Congress suffered a setback in the polls, winning just 18 seats against 77 seats it had secured in the 2017 assembly polls.
Political experts, however, believe that the Congress could emerge as a serious contender in the state assembly elections if it is able to showcase a united campaign by putting an end to the internal rift within the state unit.
The party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections has provided some encouragement. The Congress won seven of Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats with 26.39 per cent vote share, while the ruling AAP could win only three parliamentary seats.
Prof Ashutosh Kumar, a political scientist at Panjab University in Chandigarh, said appointing Pilot as general secretary in-charge of Punjab was a “right decision”.
“He enjoys the confidence of the party high command. He will also be an asset for campaigning,” he said.
According to political observers, winning elections in Punjab will also be an important assignment for Pilot’s own political trajectory, as a successful stint in the state could strengthen his position within the Congress ahead of the 2028 Rajasthan Assembly polls. PTI CHS VSD RHL
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